Package and cabinet fosg



De.7,1"94a.` M. RIFKIN 2,455,809

PACKAGE AND CABINET FOR FROZEN FOODS Filed March 7, 1944 Patented Bec.l 7, 1 948 PACKAGE AND CABINET Foa raozEN Foons Milton Rifkin, Denver, Colo., assigner, by incarne assignments, to Frcz-O-Mat Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application March "1, 1944, serial No; 525,461 s claims. (ci. 31a-3e) l This invention relates to a frozen food package and cabinet therefor. Frozen foods are usually packed in cardboard boxes or vcartons and these boxes must be continually stored in refrigerated cases. The usual custom is to place them in refrigerated cases having hinged top lids. Thisv method is unsatisfactory since the cartons are'not on display to, entice -purchasers and the continual opening of the lids and handling of the contents therein in order to reach and remove the desired cartons results in great refrigeration loss and damaged goods.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a package for frozen foods and a. refrigerated These will become more apparent from the following description.

ln the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to `the accompanying drawing .which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an improved frozen foorl package as employed in this invention;

Fig. y2 is a cross section through the package of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar cross section illustrating an insulating cap which may be placed on present packages to adapt them to the uses of this invention; f

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of a display case designed for handling the improved packages;

Fig. 5 is a detail section through the front panel of the case, taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section therethrough, taken en the line 6 6, Fig. 4.

The improved display case may be used either with package of Figs. 1 and 2 or with standard packages containing the cap structure of Fig. 3.

The improved package comprises a box-like food carton lil which is for-med with an indentation or groove Il completely surrounding the package immediately to the rear of the front age continues forwardly of the package to form the groove Ii and across the face thereof to form a front i2; thence, turns rearwardly to form a continuation of the groove il and terminates in a flap I3. The other side of this sheet is extended across the front to form a false front i di. The space between the fronts i2 and i4 forms an insulating compartment IE over the entire front of the box. k

The insulating compartment i5 is filled with any suitable insulation. As illustrated, it conbains a corrugated cardboard pad it which forms dead air spaces therein.' A finger tab il is cut from the front i2 to provide a finger grip thereof.

If desired, present cartons may be adapted to the use of this invention by placing a cardboard cap i3 (s-ee Fig. 3) on the front of a standard carton, such 'as indicated in broken line i9. The cap i8 contains insulating compartment 2G similar to that of the previously described form. The cap is also provided with a peripheral groove 2i about the compartment 2@ as in the previous form. In both forms; the food carton ill and the standard carton i@ are thermally insulated at their ,front faces. The front faces i2 and the front faces of the caps it may carry suitable advertising'of the contents of the cartons. i

The above described structures are for use in a special display cabinet such las yillustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. This cabinet comprises a suitable enclosing cabinet which is insulated in any desired manner to exclude heat. The refrigeration may be supplied in any desired manner. As illustrated, the cabinet is cooled by means of freezing shelves 23 through which brine or other freezing liquid is circulated as is usual in refrigerator construction.

A plurality of track bars 2d are positioned over each shelf 23 for supporting rows of the cartons l0'. Each row of cartons is continually urged forward on the track bars 2d, between suitable guide rods 25, by means of a compression spring 26. Thus; as each cartonI is removed from the front of the row another carton will be forced forwardly by the spring to replace it.

The front of the cabinet 22 is closed 'by means lof a facing 2l having a plurality of display openwhich are secured to the facing 21 by means of suitable bolts or screws 29 or in any other desired 3 the cartons so as to engage into the peripheral grooves ii of the cartons of Fig. 1 or the peripheral grooves 2l ofsthecaps i8 as shown in Fig, 5.

Therefore, the foremost carton or package in each row seals the front of the cabinet and the insulated fronts of the cartons and strips 2l form the insulation over the entire front of the cabinet.

In use, the customer selects the desired carton from the many on display and grips the tab il thereof. By pulling on the tab hedraws the de sired carton from the grip of the flexible strips 28 and withdraws it from the cabinet. The spring now acts to force the next succeeding carton for`- wardly into the flexible frame formed by the strips 28 immediately sealing the refrigerated cabinet. If the caps I8 are employed, the customer removes the cap from the carton and leaves it in a suitable container for reuse on other packages. If the carton I is used the entire carton with its insulated front is carried away with the food.

If desired, additional flexible sealing strips such as indicated at 30 (Fig. 5) may be employed for insuring a seal about the cartons at the front of the cabinet. It is preferred to" make the front portions of the cartons and caps, that is, the pormanson sealing member to seal said cabinet, each of said cartons being provided with a peripheral recess adjacent the Vfront face for receiving the edges defining the opening of one of the sealing members. k

2. Means for storing frozen foods comprising: a cabinet; means -for cooling the interior of said cabinet; a plurality of stationary, horizontal t ack members in said cabinet for supporting a plurlity of rows of front to rear cartons therein, said tr ck members terminating at the front wall of-said cabinet, there being an opening in said front wall in alignment with each row of cartons, said openings being larger than said cartons to allow the latter to pass therethrough; a flexible sealing frame surrounding each opening and reducing the size oi the opening to less than the size of the carton; means 'for forcing the rows of cartons forwardly so that the foremost carton of each tions extending forwardly from the groove Il on the carton, indicated at 3i, and the portion extending forwardly from the groove 2i of the cap, indicated at 3.2, slightly smaller `than the remaining portions of the cartons themselves. This causes the grooves Il and 2i to have a lower wall nn the side toward the front than on the side at the rear so that the springs will be enabled to force thefronts past the sealing strips 28 without forcing the entire carton past the strips. This assures the carton stopping at the proper point for the sealing strips to engage'in the grooves Ii and 2i. V

It will be noted that the strength of the'springs diminishes as they become extended but it will also be noted that the springs have less carton weight to move as they become extended so the resultant push on the foremost package is equalized at all times.

This invention is designed more particularly as an improvement over the construction shown in. applicants prior Patent No. 2,299,3d7.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for storing frozen foods comprising a cabinet; means for refrlgerating vsaid cabinet: track members in said cabinet for supporting rows of cartons therein, said cabinet having openings in its front one in front of each row to allow the cartons to pass therethrough; and a flexible sealing member framing each opening; and means for forcing the rows of cartons forwardlyv so that the foremost carton ofeach row will contact said row will contact said sealingframe to seal said cabinet; and a heat insulated front on the forward side of each carton to insulate the opening in said sealing frame.

3. Means for storing frozen foodscomprising: a cabinet; means for cooling the interior of said cabinet; a plurality of stationary, horizontal track members in said cabinet for supporting a plurality of rows of front to rear cartons therein, said track members terminating at the front -wailof said cabinet, there being an opening in said front wall in alignment with each row of cartons, said openings being larger than said cartons to allow the latter to pass therethrough; a flexible sealing frame surrounding each opening and reducing the size of the opening to less than the size of the carton; means for forcing the rows of cartons forwardly so that the foremost carton of each row willcontact said sealing frame to seal said cabinet; and a heat insulated front wall on the forward side of each carton to insulate the opening in said sealing frame, said wall being smaller than the remaining portion of said carton so that the front wall may pass through the sealing frame, with the latter retaining the carton in place.

' MILTON RIFKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

.UNITED s'ra'r'ns PATENTS Number 

